Diligence ... is a discreet and understanding application of onesself to business; ... it loses not, it conquers difficulties.... Be busy to a purpose; for a busy man and a man of business are two different things. Lay your matters and diligence succeeds them, else pains are lost.... Consider well your end, suit your means to it, and diligently employ them, and you will arrive where you would be....[78] Frugality is a virtue too, and not of little use in life, the better way to be rich, for it hath less toil and temptation.... I would have you liberal, but not prodigal; and diligent but not drudging; I would have you frugal but not sordid.[79]
This bit of philosophy is educational in its bearing in very much the same way as that of Benjamin Franklin.
In the letters to his wife and children, referring to the care for their education, he is more specifically concerned with actual school education.
School education recommended; the useful emphasized
For their learning, be liberal. Spare no cost, for by such parsimony all is lost that is saved; but let it be useful knowledge such as is consistent with truth and godliness, not cherishing a vain conversation or idle mind; but ingenuity mixed with industry is good for the body and the mind too. I recommend the useful parts of mathematics, as building houses, or ships, measuring, surveying, dialing, navigation; but agriculture especially is my eye. Let my children be husbandmen and housewives; it is industrious, healthy, honest and of good example, ...[80]
Private tutors desired
His preference, as might be expected from an Englishman of that time, was for a tutorial system of education. His reasons therefore seem to have been based chiefly on moral grounds.
Rather have an ingenious person in the house to teach them, than send them to schools; too many evil impressions being received there.[81]
The above quotation alone would seem to be adequate proof that Penn did not oppose education, but urged it for others and in his own family. But still more convincing and irrefutable evidence is found in the preamble to this school charter, whence an extract is taken.
Public education essential for the welfare of a people